Juliette and the Licks
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Juliette Lewis |
| Defunct | 2009 (initial breakup) |
| Fate | Reunited in 2015 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Juliette and the Licks was an American rock band fronted by actress and vocalist Juliette Lewis. The group's roster featured guitarists Todd Morse, Craig Fairbaugh, and Emilio Cueto, bassist Jason Womack, alongside drummer Ed Davis. Among their standout songs were "You're Speaking My Language" and "Hot Kiss". Although the band dissolved in 2009, they reunited for a performance in Los Angeles in 2015 and subsequently embarked on an extensive tour throughout 2016. In June of that year, Lewis announced a solo tour, casting some uncertainty over the band's continuation. By May 2018, members shared on Twitter that they were collaborating on new material under the Juliette And The Licks name.
History
The formation of the band came after Lewis attended a Blondie concert accompanied by drummer Patty Schemel from Hole. The original ensemble consisted of Juliette on vocals, Schemel on drums, Todd Morse handling guitar duties, and Paul Ill on bass. Their initial release was the EP …Like a Bolt of Lightning in 2004, which preceded their debut album You're Speaking My Language. The album’s title track emerged as their most prominent single, complemented by a disco-inspired remix of "Got Love to Kill".
Before recording their sophomore album, Schemel departed, prompting Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl to fill in on drums. The subsequent album sessions included Lewis, Grohl, Morse, Kemble Walters, and Jason Womack. Grohl extended an invitation for the band to open at Foo Fighters’ 2006 Hyde Park concert before an audience of 85,000. Additionally, Lewis contributed backing vocals alongside Moa Holmsten for Motörhead during the event.
Their follow-up album Four on the Floor was released in late 2006. The lead single "Hot Kiss" ranked among their most successful tracks, while the next single "Sticky Honey" did not achieve similar commercial success. The band toured extensively across America and Europe, supporting notable acts such as Muse and Chris Cornell.
In 2007, Kemble Walters exited to rejoin his original group, The Rise, with Emilio Cueto stepping in as his permanent replacement after a brief interim guitarist filled the role. That year, Juliette and the Licks performed at MTV Brasil’s music awards and later appeared at the 2008 MTV Australia Awards. Following these events, Todd Morse left the band; Craig Fairbaugh took over guitar responsibilities for touring until the group ceased operations in 2009.
Their song "Inside the Cage" was featured on the soundtrack of Grand Theft Auto IV, playing on the in-game Radio Broker station.
Break-Up
In a 2009 post on MySpace, Lewis declared that Juliette and the Licks had reached their conclusion as a band, citing a desire to pursue new artistic directions. She subsequently formed a different band and released her solo album Terra Incognita that same year. Regarding The Licks’ dissolution, she clarified: "Only two members remained. They parted ways. Not everyone wants to be constantly touring. I do, but they don’t… It might seem like the famous singer dismissed everyone else, but that’s not accurate."
Reunion and new music
Following their breakup in 2009, Juliette Lewis concentrated on her acting career in Hollywood. The group reunited for a one-off performance at Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre on July 23, 2015, and began work on their first album since 2006’s Four on the Floor, aiming for a 2016 release. Lewis credited her collaboration with Brad Shultz from Cage the Elephant as inspiration for reassembling The Licks to create a powerful lineup known for its electrifying stage presence and chemistry. This reunion show was succeeded by an extensive European tour throughout 2016. In May 2018, Juliette and the Licks announced via Twitter that they were recording new songs.
Present members
- Juliette Lewis – lead vocals, production (2003–2009, 2015–present)
- Todd Morse – lead guitar, backing vocals (2003–2008, 2015–present)
- Jason Womack – bass guitar (2006–2009, 2015–present)
- Kemble Walters – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2006–2007, 2015–present)
- Ed Davis – drums (2006–2009, 2015–present)
Past members
- Paul Ill – bass (2003–2006), keyboards, synthesizer, Rhodes piano, backing vocals (2006–2007)
- Patty Schemel – drums (2003–2004)
- Jason Morris – drums (2004–2006)
- Emilio Cueto – rhythm guitar (2007–2009)
- Craig Fairbaugh – lead guitar (2008–2009)
Guest musicians
- Dave Grohl – drums featured on Four on the Floor (2006)
Touring personnel
- Brad Wilk – drums (2016)
- Juan Alderete – bass (2016)
Studio albums
| Album title | Details | Highest chart rankings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | UK Indie | SCO | ||
| You're Speaking My Language |
|
— | 14 | 95 |
| Four on the Floor |
|
88 | 4 | 58 |
EPs
- ...Like a Bolt of Lightning (2004)
Singles
| Year | Title | UK Singles Chart Peak | Associated album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "You're Speaking My Language" | No. 35 | You're Speaking My Language |
| 2005 | "Got Love To Kill" | No. 56 | You're Speaking My Language |
| 2006 | "Hot Kiss" | No. 50 | Four on the Floor |
| 2007 | "Sticky Honey" | No. 76 | Four on the Floor |